AUSTIN, Minn. – The Austin Bruins made their first draft selections of the 2021 offseason on Wednesday selecting three players in the NAHL’s Supplemental Draft.
With picks numbered 13, 36, and 41, the Austin Bruins spent their first two selections on the blue line, beginning with dual-citizen Xavier-Alexandre Jean-Louis. At 6-foot-4, 190-pounds, Jean-Louis spent 2019-20 with the Carleton Place Canadians of the Central Canada Hockey League. During that season, Jean-Louis racked up two goals and seven assists in 42 games played. A 2001 birth year, Jean-Louis brings some age to the Bruins blue line that lost several 20-year-old defensemen this offseason including Cullen Rush and Grayson Valente.
Later in the afternoon, the Bruins used their 36th overall selection on Nathan Jurrens, an 18-year-old defenseman from Verona, WI. Jurrens played mostly high-school level hockey in 2020-21 but did play sixteen games for Team Wisconsin of the Upper Midwest High School Elite League. Team Wisconsin is the same program that produced Bruins Barrett Brooks, Frank Dovorany, and Nick Catalano. Jurrens also made his junior hockey debut in 2020-21 as the 5-foot-11, 174-pounder competed in two games for the Oregon Tradesmen of the NA3HL. In total, across three different leagues, Jurrens logged 13 points in 24 games played during the 2020-21 season.
Only five picks later, the Bruins made their lone offensive selection on the day, acquiring forward Dean Loukus with the 41st overall pick. Loukas, 18, comes to Austin after a storied four-year career playing high school hockey at Calumet High. Named team captain in his senior season, Loukas amassed 201 total points in 91 games played. For his efforts, the 5-foot-9 forward was named the 2020-21 recipient of the Michigan Mr. Hockey Award, given out annually to the best high school hockey player in the state of Michigan. His leadership and offensive abilities helped propel his Calumet Copper Kings to the state finals where they were named runners-up.
Up next for the Bruins, the team will begin hosting camps to find the next crop of players to draft as the NAHL’s Entry Level Draft is just over a month away on July 12, 2021. Following those selections, the Bruins will invite all of their returning players, tenders, draft picks, and other invitees, to Austin for a training camp process that will see the coaching staff evaluate and make final selections on players who will comprise the 2021-22 Austin Bruins roster. The final 60 or so players left will compete in the annual Black-and-Gold Game in August, the first chance fans will have to see the new-look Bruins. Tickets for that event will go on sale later this summer.
To see Jean-Louis, Jurrens, and Loukus in person this season, be sure to get your season ticket! Early bird pricing is going on now with a traditional adult ticket starting at $200, originally a $250 price. Online sign-up makes it easy, fans can visit www.austinbruins.com/season-tickets to get started today! With credit card payment options, monthly payment plans, and reserved seating still available, it’s never been more affordable or convenient to lock in your hockey plans for the upcoming season. Not a fan of online registration? Give the Austin Bruins front office a call today at 507-434-4078.
